Pictures: James River Reserve Fleet Numbers decline

Joe Fudge / Daily Press

Crew on the Gopher State, one of three crane ships docked in downtown Newport News, work on the large hatches that cover the ship's cargo holes during a tour of the Ready Reserve Cornhusker State T-ACS 6.

Crew on the Gopher State, one of three crane ships docked in downtown Newport News, work on the large hatches that cover the ship's cargo holes during a tour of the Ready Reserve Cornhusker State T-ACS 6.

The Ready Reserve Cornhusker State (T-ACS 6) is one of three crane ships docked in downtown Newport News. It is one of the ships in the ready reserve fleet. Only nine ships remain in the James River Reserve Fleet that rest at anchor off of Ft. Eustis in the James River. Most of the older ships in the fleet have been shipped out for disposal, while others remain kept for parts and training platforms.